There is no need for the Matildas to panic just yet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After opening their account with victory over New Zealand, Tony Gustavsson's side fell 4-2 to Sweden on Saturday night. It means that Australia need at least a draw when they take on the US on Tuesday night.
The Australians were very dominant in game one and probably should have won more comfortably than the final 2-1 scoreline showed against NZ. However, they did what they had to do to get the three points.
They were then were probably a little unlucky against Sweden. After going ahead 2-1, the Matildas then missed a penalty to make it 3-3, which could have snatched them a valuable point.
They sit third on the Group G table, only trailing the US on for and against. However, going into the tournament, we expected it to come down to the final game in the group stage to see if they would progress, so their destiny is in the Matildas' own hands.
The key will be tightening up a bit defensively. The US has obviously got some good attacking threats so if you're conceding four goals, like they did against Sweden, it's hard to get a result. That should be their number one priority because the team has got goals in them with Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord.
If they can nullify the US and keep their attack at bay, the Aussies will get chances to score goals on Tuesday night, and you'd back them - especially Kerr - to get a goal or two in Kashima.
On paper, it's been a similar start to the Tokyo Games for Australia's men's team.
The Olyroos also began their Olympic campaign with a win before falling 1-0 to Spain in a gutsy performance on Monday night.
That Argentinian game was obviously a great result, it was a tough game to open with in Tokyo. Even up until the send off, the Aussies were dominant in the game, though that red card helped in the second half and getting those three points was huge.
Against Spain, we were outplayed and they dominated the match, but the way that Australia defended was a massive positive. To keep a team like that at bay for the majority of the game was a big plus. The Olyroos can take a lot of heart from that heading into their clash with Egypt on Wednesday night.
The Australians are second in Group C - behind Spain - but they can't afford to take their third opponent lightly.
Egypt kept Spain to a 0-0 draw, so they can obviously play a bit too. But it was likely always going to come down to the last group game, so you'd rather be playing Egypt for the chance to get through than Argentina or Spain.
Unfortunately, a couple of the boys - Mitch Duke, Riley McGree and Nathaniel Atkinson - are suspended, but bringing in some fresh legs might give Graham Arnold's men a little more go-forward.
Get ready for a huge couple of nights for both of our Aussie football teams.